Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands. In the Reformation period Drenthe was passed by. Only at the border, as at Koevorden, were there some Anabaptists about 1540. After the Reformed faith had become the established faith in the 17th century, we find some Mennonites in the border towns of Havelte and Roderwolde. At the former place there is record of them until 1659, though there was no organized congregation. At Roderwolde there was a small congregation, which had a preacher and its own church in 1639. In 1657 the Synod of Drenthe complained that there were several unbaptized children there. The congregation probably died out soon afterward. It was located in the territory of the castle of Nienoord belonging to the Ewsum family, several of whom were Mennonites. In the 19th century two churches were established in Drenthe, Assen and Meppel. In Emmen,Hoogeveen, and Roden there are Mennonite groups, and other Mennonites live scattered through the province. The number of Mennonites (souls) in Drenthe was 286 in 1859, 641 in 1899, and 933 in 1947.